Monday fire destroys property of Gorham fire chief

gorhan fire 1 — A fire destroys two combines and a shed south of Gorham late Monday afternoon. Photo courtesy Mandi Blundon

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

GORHAM — A fire late Monday afternoon south of Gorham destroyed two combines and a metal shed owned by Gorham Fire Chief Glen Blundon.

Russell County Emergency Manager Keith Haberer told Hays Post Tuesday he was one of the first responders at 5:55 p.m. to the fire at 17953 Fairfield Road, about 5 miles south of Gorham.

According to Haberer, the blaze started during welding maintenance on the John Deere combines. As Blundon and others worked to move a second combine out of the shed, the fuel tank on the first caught fire. The welding machinery and other tools in the shed also were destroyed.

There were no injuries.

Firefighters from Gorham, Milberger, Bunker Hill, Russell Grant, Russell City, Victoria and Dorrance responded, along with units from Russell County EMS, Sheriff and Emergency Management. Haberer said the fire was out by about 9:30 p.m.

Damage estimates are more than $300,000.

Haberer actually suited up to fight the fire. Blundon’s son, Gary, was at the scene when the fire started and also is on the Gorham Fire Department. A recent knee surgery kept Gary Blundon from fighting the fire, so Haberer donned the extra gear and helped battle the blaze.